Rotary actuated humidifier



March 29, 1949. F. P, LEVY `2,465,890

ROTARY ACTUATED HUMIDIFIER Filed Aug. 14, 1946 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u gif-'1 4 Z/ March 29, 1949. F. P. LEVY 2,465,890

ROTARY ACTUATED HUMIDIFIER Filed Aug. 141946 2 sheets-sheet 2 Ey 7 f Syvum/Mom frank l. Levy Patented Mar. 29, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary actuated humidiers and/or vaporizers, having for its object to provide a construction which is simple in parts and more effective in use than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly covered by the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through the cover for a receptacle, and to which this invention has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken as on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction f the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows; Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the Valve of this invention, with the component parts thereof in separated positions to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 9-9 of Fig. 'l and looking-in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views in detail of two locking means employed for the valve of this invention; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional View of the locking means illustrated in Fig. 11, said view taken as on the line I2-l2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

This invention is directed to a humidifier and/ or vaporizer which is tubular or cylindrical in its general formation, and the chief component parts of which comprise a sleeve or casing and a valve rotatable in the casing, thereby distinguishing from other types of valve structures and particularly the rectangular push-pull type as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,843,514, granted February 2, 1932. In other words this invention comprises a rotatable valve structure which is more practical than that of my previous patent in that,

according to the patented construction, the valve is actuated by withdrawing a component part' of the valve, which withdrawn part may be injured or damaged in its extended position, whereas according to this invention only a rotary motion need be given the valve, without withdrawing any portion thereof, to open and close the valve and hence there are no extended positions of the Valve which would be subject to damage.

With reference to Fig. 1 a receptacle is indicated at 2, which may be a glass tobacco jar or any other receptacle, and 3 represents generally a cover for said receptacle, said cover provided with a central dome-like upward extension indicated at l into which the cylindrical valve of this invention is fitted, a handle 5 being indicated as a means for lifting said cover.

The dome-like upward extension of said cover may have circular or polygonal vertical walls, the axis of the valve structure being generally hori- Zontal when the cover is in place on the receptacle and positioned substantially diametrically of the cover, one wall such as i5 having a circular opening at 1 therein through which the valve structure as a whole is inserted, the opposite wall such as 8 having a hole therethrough or a circular recess 9 formed in its inner surface into which an extreme end of the valve structure is seated, said valve structure tightly fitting the circular opening 'l and the circular recess 9, so that the cylindrical casing l0 of said valve structure will be gripped and prevented from rotation, said casing preferably occupying a position substantially tangent to the inner surface of the top wall ll of the cover. The valve structure comprises the outer cylindrical casing I0, an inner cylindrical sleeve l5 relatively closely tting said casing, and a cylindrically formed valve member or blade I6 fitting the inner surface of said sleeve for rotation therein, the outer end of said casing being freely open for insertion and extraction of said sleeve.

The sleeve is fitted at its outermost end with a plug I1 secured to said sleeve as by a pin or screw I8 to prevent any rotary movement of said plug in said sleeve, the pin I8 being extended beyond the outer surface of said sleeve in order to engage a longitudinal slot or groove I9 in the end of the casing I0. The plug Il is axially bored to receive therethrough the stem 20 secured at its inner end to the valve blade i6 and provided at its outermost end with a knob or handle 2l by which the valve blade may be given rotation relative the sleeve l5, the outer end of said plug having a head of suiicient diameter or size to overlap or cover the circular opening 1 in the wall of the cover.

The casing lll is provided with one or more slots or vapor conducting passages such as 25 longitudinally disposed in the wall thereof, and the sleeve i5 is provided with'similar slots or passages such as 2B registrable with the passages 25 when the sleeve is properly positioned within the casing, and to this end the slot or groove I9 at the end of the casing is positioned to receive the end oi pin i8 to insure such registration of the passages 25 Aand 26. These passages may be located in accordance with the nature of the substance contained in the valve for humidifying the atmosphere within the receptacle. That is to say, if said substance within the valve .is in a solid state, said passage may be in the side or in the bottom of the valve as the cover rests upon the receptacle, but if the substance be in a liquid state and retained by an absorbent medium, then said passages should not be in the bottom portion but rather in an upper side portion of the valve, to prevent or minimize leakage of the liquid from the valve. The passage 25 of said sleeve .may be made greater than the passage 25 of the casing, and can be of s'uflicient size to permit the humidifying and/or absorbent media to be admitted therethrough into said sleeve. Also, there may be only one elongated passage in the sleeve, registrable with one or more passages in the casing.

The plug Il is shown with a radially'bored recess 27 in registry with a hole 2'I in the sleeve l5, said hole being in registry with a poclet E8 formed in the casing l0, the sizes of said pocket, said hole and said recess being such that a springpressed ball 29 will llt freely said hole and re'- cess but will not pass through but rather be restrictedly seated in the pocket 2S as clearly il@ lustrated in Fig. 3. This is only one specic form of several possible constructions for preventing' accidental outward axialmoverrient of the sleeve with respectto the casing. In other words, the sleeve has a close but freet within said casing so that said sleeve may readily be inserted and extracted from said casing, and in such insertion of the sleeve within the casing, ball '29 may be depressed manuallyagainst the tension to its spring so' as to enter the casing.u When the sleeve is fully inserted, said ball will be forced by its spring to seat in the pocket 28 of said casing, the degree of entry of said ball in said pocket being only sufficient to hold the sleeve in the casing against accidental outward axial movement as will be readily understood, but said ball will yield from its seated position in said pocket when the sleeve isintentinally withdrawn from the casing as forthe purpose of replenishing the humidifying substance y within said sleeve. Therefore, it is to be understood that any suit# able yieldable means may be employed for retaining the sleeve in said casing against ac'c'ie dental displacement.

Whereasin the drawings the pin and slot cen'- struction I-IQ has been illustrated as disposed to one side of an axial plane of the sleeve passing through the ball 29, it is to beunderstood that said construction could as well be located in said plane, and that in such case the outermost end of the slot I9 of the casing could serve as a guide means in directing the ball as well as the pin into the casing. In other Words, the' Vsleeve would be passed longitudinally into the casing with the ball in alignment with the slot i9.

The valve blade, asbest seen in Fig. 6 coinprises' a cylindrically formed imperfolrate segmental portion l5 the outer surface o'fwhicli rela'- tiv'ely closely nts the inner cylindrical surface of sleeve l5, this segmental portion at its innermost end being laterally enlarged as at v3&3 to provide a substantially seini-circular bearing for the blde, with respect to said sle'v'e, With a taris'- versely disposed circular slot or groove 3l through or into which the pin 32 is adapted to enter. Said pin is preferably a screw threaded into the hole 33 provided therefor in said sleeve, said pin and slot ill serving as a means for limiting the amount of rotation given to the blade I6. The Opposite end of said blade is provided with a transversely extending ear, lug or plate 34 to which is rigidly secured the stem 2i) which freely passes through plug i? and has the manipulating knob 2l at its outermost end and by means of which said blade is given rotary movement within said sleeve.

Pin 32 is so positioned, and the circular slot 3l is of such length that when the blade l@ is rotated to the limit of said slot in one direction, the passages 26 in the sleeve l5 will be fully closed by said blade, and when the blade is ro'- tated in the opposite direction to the other limit of said slot, said passages will be fully open. There is sufficient frictional engagement between the surfaces of said blade and said sleeve to hold said blade in either of these limits of its rotary movement, or in any intermediate position whereby partial uncoverings of said passages may be eifected. Particularly when liquid sub stances are utilized as the humidifying medium, a closure 35 may be employed for the innermost end oi sleeve I5.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the sleeve may have inserted therein the desired humidifying medium, either in solid form such as chips or cartridges, or in liquid form associated with an absorbent mass, then the sleeve is pushed into the casing lil, and then the knob 2| is turned to bring about the desired degree of uncovering of passages 26 to permit escape of the vapors ofthe humidifying medium through passages 25 of casing IB into the receptacle 2. Later, when found necessary in accordance with the condition of the material in said receptacle, the knob 2| may be manipulated to change the degree oi uncovering of said passages and the amount of humidifying vapors passed thereby.

The chief advantages of the construction above disclosed lie in the controlled degree of humidiiication without the necessity of extending any portion of the valve assembly beyond its intended normal position with respect to the cover 3 of the receptacle, as well as in the fact that the 'valve and the humidifying substance therein are substantially always disposed in a horizontal position whereby the vapors from such substance may rise and pass laterally from the' valve through passages which are preferably positioned in the upper portions of the walls of the valve, and lastly in the fact that the humidifying' substance is at all times contained within the sleeve |'5 of the valve so that when said sleeve is extracted from the casing Il] said substance will be carried therewith, this last named feature being highly desirable as and when different humidifying substances are employed with a rece'pt'acle` That is to say, it is conceivable that a receptacle and its cover may be utilized in one instance to hold a certain commodity or article for which a certain humidifying substance would be desired, and in another instance the recepspecic humidifying substance. In other words, it would only be necessary to remove the sleeve containing the first mentioned substance and to substitute therefor another sleeve containing the second named substance, the sleeve so removed having its valve blade turned to close its passages and thus prevent the escape of vapors from any of the humidifying substance left therein.

Therefore, this invention also contemplates an assembly of the sleeve l and blade I6 as a complete marketable unit, without the combination therewith of the casing lil as indicated in Fig. 6, the such unit assembly of sleeve and blade with a suitable humidifying substance contained therein being usable as a humidifying instrumentality by placing it bodily and loosely in a drawer, box, or other receptacle, with proper degree of uncovered openings, Therefore, it is contemplated that the structure of this invention is such that it need not be limited to one occupying a substantially horizontal position when in use, because, and particularly when using a solid or cartridge form of humidifying substance, the structure may occupy any position including one with its axis perpendicular.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 7 involves the same generic principle found in the preferred form above described, in that there is provided the cylindrical casing or sleeve 45) which is substantially similar to the casing i0, or the sleeve I5 previously described, it being provided with a vapor conducting passage 4l adapted to register with a similar passage 42 provided in the cylindrically formed valve @i3 which is to contain the desired humidifying substance. However, said valve is not formed like the segmental valve blade i6 but is circularly continuous and is adapted to be rotated about its axis to partially or wholly cover and uncover the registrable passages 4! and 42, this being accomplished by virtue of the knob M which is rigidly secured to the outer end of said valve.

Said valve is provided with a pin or projection 45 which is adapted to engage an L-shaped or bayonet type of slot or groove Mi provided in the wall of the sleeve dii, the entering portion of said groove being indicated at 4l and extending longitudinally of the sleeve, and the locking portion of said groove being indicated at 48 and extending transversely of said sleeve, see Fig. 10. The passages 4i and i2 are not in open registry with each other when the pin 45 is caused to enter the portion lll of said groove, but when the knob is turned said pin will travel in the portion i8 of said groove, and when the pin reaches the end limit thereof said passages will be in full open registry.

A variation from this bayonet type of groove or slot is illustrated in Figs. l1 and 12, and comprises a T-shaped slot the entering portion of which is indicated at 52) with oppositely extending locking portions indicated at 5l and l52. Thus it will be understood that the valve when inserted in the sleeve dii will have its pin or projection enter the portion 50 of said slot, and when the knob is turned in one direction the pin will travel into the portion 5i of said slot to cause total closure of the vapor releasing passages, and when the knob is turned in the opposite direction said pin will travel into the portion 52 of said slot to cause said passages to come into full open registry. By this construction the valve is locked in the sleeve when said passages are in either full open or in full closed positions.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention, wherefore it is desired not to be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be required by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A humidifier for a receptacle provided with a cover, comprising a casing, a sleeve fitted Within said casing, and a valve rotatable Within said sleeve, said casing having its ends supported in opposite walls of the cover with one end extending through one of such walls and freely open, said casing having a vapor conducting passage in a wall thereof, said sleeve being cylindrical and insertable in said casing through the freely open end thereof, said sleeve having a vapor conducting passage in a wall thereof, means for positioning said sleeve in said casing with their passages in registry, said valve comprising a blade closely fitting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted in said sleeve to have rotatable movement for covering and uncovering the vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, a Vapor emitting medium in said sleeve, and actuating means whereby rotary motion may be imparted to said' valve.

2. A humidifier for a receptacle provided with a cover comprising a casing, a sleeve fitted within said casing, and a valve rotatable within saidl sleeve, said casing having its ends supported in opposite Walls of the cover with one end extending through one of such walls and freely open, said casing having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, said sleeve being cylindrical and insertible in said casing through the freely open end thereof, said sleeve having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, means for positioning said sleeve in said' casing with their passages in registry, yieldable means for securing said sleeve in said casing against accidential axial movement, said valve comprising a blade closely tting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted in said sleeve to have rotatable movement for covering and' uncovering the vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, a vapor emitting medium in said sleeve, and actuating means whereby rotary motion may be imparted to said valve.

3. A humidifier for a receptacle provided with a cover comprising a casing, a sleeve tted within said casing, and a valve rotatable within said sleeve, said casing having its ends supported in opposite Walls of the cover with one end extending through one of such walls and freely open, said casing having a vapor conducting passage in a wall thereof, said sleeve being cylindrical and insertable in said casing through the freely open end thereof, said sleeve having a vapor conducting passage in a wall thereof, means for positioning said sleeve in said casing with their passages in registry, yieldable means comprising a spring pressed member for securing said sleeve in said casing against accidental axial movement, said valve comprising a blade closely tting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted in said sleeve to have rotatable movement for covering and uncovering the vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, a vapor emitting medium in said sleeve, and actuating means whereby rotary motion may be imparted to said valve.

4. A humidiier for a receptacle provided with a cover, comprising a casing, a sleeve tted' within said casing, and a valve rotatable within said sleeve, said casing having its ends supported in opposite walls of the cover with one end extend- .ing through one of .such Walls and freely open,

said casing having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, said sleeve being cylindrical and insertable in said casing through the freely open end thereof, said sleeve having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, means for positioning said sleeve in said casing with their passages in registry, yieldable means for securing said sleeve in said casing against accidential axial movement, said yieldable means comprising a spring pressed ball carried by said sleeve and a pocket formed in the Wall of said casing for receiving a portion of said ball, said valve comprising a blade closely fitting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted in said sleeve to have rotatable movement for covering and uncovering a vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, a vapor emitting medium in said sleeve, and actuating means whereby rotary motion may be imported to said valve.

5. A humidifier for a receptacle provided with a cover comprising a casing, a sleeve tted Within said casing, and a valve rotatable Within said sleeve, said casing having its ends supported in opposite Walls of the cover with one end extending through one of such Walls and freely open, said casing having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, said sleeve being cylindrical and insertable in said casing through the freely open end thereof, said sleeve provided at its ends with closure members and having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, means for positioning said sleeve in saidcasing with their passages in registry, said valve comprising a blade closely fitting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted in said sleeve to have rotatable movement for covering and uncovering the vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, said blad'e having an operating stem passing through one of the closure members for said sleeve, a vapor emitting medium in said sleeve, and actuating means carried by said stem whereby rotary motion may be imported to said valve blade. Y 6. A humidifier for a receptacle provided with a Cover, comprising a casing, a sleeve fitted With-- in said casing, and a valve rotatable within said sleeve, said casing having its ends supported in opposite Walls of the cover with one end extending through one of such walls and freely open, said casing having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, said sleeve being cylindrical and insertable in said casing through the :freely open ena1 thereof, said sleeve having a vapor conducting passage in a wall thereof, means for positioning said sleeve in said casing with their passages in registry, said valve comprising a cylinydrically formed biade closely fitting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted in said sleeve to have rotatable movement for covering and uncover-infr the vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, a vapor emitting medium in said sleeve. and actuating means whereby rotary vmotion may be imparted to said valve blade, said blade provided with for stopping the rotary motion thus imparted when said passage is covered and uncovered fby said blade.

7. In a humidiiier 'the combination, with a receptacle for the commodity to be humidiiled, of a casing disposed wholly within the receptacle; a cylindrical sleeve having the major portion of its outer surface snugly fitting said casing and removable therefrom, said sleeve for containing a humidfying medium therein; passages formed in the walls of said casing and said sleeve, said passages registrable with each other; and a cylindrically formed valve carried by said sleeve to open and close said passages.

8. A humidiiier for a receptacle, comprising a cylindrical sleeve, a valve rotatable Within said sleeve, and supporting means for said sleeve, said means constituting a casing encompassing a p0rtion of said sleeve and having a vapor conducting passage in a wall thereof, said sleeve for containing a vapor emitting medium and having a vapor conducting passage in a Wall thereof, said sleeve and casing having relative movement one to the other whereby to bring their vapor conducting passages into registry with each other, said valve comprising a member closely fitting the inner cylindrical surface of said sleeve and mounted for selectively covering and uncovering the vapor conducting passage of said sleeve, and actuating means ior selectively operating said valve.

for a receptacle containing a s humidiiied, the combination of a casing supportable by the receptacle; a cylindrical sleeve having the major portion of its outer surface snugly fitting said casing and removable therefrom, s sleeve for containing a vapor si; passages formed in the walls of trablc with eh ether; and a cylindrically formed valve n iber carried by said sleeve to open and close said passages.

l0. A humidifier for a receptacle containing a substance to be humidined, comprising a casing, a cylindrical tubular sleeve, and a rotatable valve member. said casing constituting a means for supporting said slee-ve, said sleeve having the major portion of its outer cylindrical surface snugly fitting said casing and removable therefrom, said. sleeve and casing having relative movement one to the other, said sleeve for containing a vapor emitting medium, said casing and said sleeve having a vapor conducting passage formed in a Wall of each which passages are positioned to be brought into and vout of registration with each other by the relative movement imparted to said casing and said sleeve, said valve member carried by said sleeve and having a cylindrical formation contactingly engaging the inner surface of said sleeve to open and close the passage formed in the Wall of said sleeve when rotatable movement is imparted to said valve member.

FRANK P. LEVY.

REFERENCES CITED The i' ller-:ing references are of record in the iile ci this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 153 3GB Blood July 21, 1874 235,432 Weidhaas Feb. 25, 1908 1,052,025 Topping Feb. 4, 1913 1,675,683 Brunhof July 10, `1928 Levy Feb. 2, 1932 1,254,577 Reddin Apr. 10, 1934 2,247,600 Brennan July l, 1941 2,276,217 Lee Mar. 10, 1942 2,328,246 Albion Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN lPATENTS Number Country Date 679,842 France Jan. 14, '1930 

